in, perhaps not even to himself.

The next morning dawned as clear and bright as could be desired for a
Sunday excursion. Punctually at ten o'clock Edwin entered Toinette's
room. She came toward him with unfeigned cordiality, attired in a more
simple dress than any he had yet seen, and laughed when she noticed his
astonished face. "Is this right?" she asked. "This is the costume in
which Duchess Toinette walked about her native city, when she had no
court philosopher, court dwarf, or court splendor. I hope you're not
courtier enough or tasteless enough to think this countrified garb
pretty. Even my landlady, who has usually been very well satisfied with
me, was horrified at the idea of my going into the country with my
cousin--that's what you are now--in such a dress. But I've undertaken
to cure you, as well as to be cured by you. You shall confess that
beautiful things are beautiful and ugly ones ugly, and that we may make
necessity a virtue or even a jest, but never a happiness or a
pleasure."

"I'm afraid your cure will fail," he answered laughing. "You might
crawl into a turtle's shell and still please me, if only your head and
hands peeped out."

"So you're an incorrigible courtier!" she replied, shaking her white
finger at him. "But where did you leave your brother?"

He told her that he had vainly endeavored to induce him to come with
them.

"You've probably described me to him as something very horrible," she
answered thoughtfully, "to the life, as I seem to _you_, a heartless,
brainless, finery-loving creature. Well, perhaps he'll form a better
opinion of me when he sees me with his own eyes; for I must make his
acquaintance, that's settled. But now come. I feel a childish delight
in the anticipation of this drive. We won't keep the carriage waiting."

"The carriage? Plebeian country parties set off from the city gate in a
wagon. But you must be contented to walk there on your august little
feet."

"Very well. You shall have no cause to complain of me."

She tied under her chin the strings of an old and somewhat shabby
velvet hat, which however was very becoming to her young face, and
called to Jean to bring her cloak. The boy came and saluted Edwin with
the same solemn stiffness as usual. He was dressed in a common black
suit, and only the high shirt collar recalled the livery. When the
young lady told him that he might have his time until six o'clock in
the evening and go to visit his parents, his